Relocation of Ada businesses is continuing as the historic shop, Peacock Alley Needlepoint LLC, makes the move to the new Ada Drive Plaza.

Peacock Alley Needlepoint, which originally opened in 1966, is billed as one of America's oldest and most recognized needlepoint stores.

The shop has now relocated to a new 1,700-square-foot location at 452 Ada Drive, Suite 120.

The relocation is part of ongoing redevelopment of the village area in Ada Township. Peacock Alley Needlepoint is one of the first retail tenants to move into the newly constructed Ada Drive Plaza in addition to Artisan Flowers, a fellow longtime Ada business that formerly operated out of the Little Red Schoolhouse.

Peacock Alley got its start in 1966, when five women pulled together $500 to start a small shop in East Grand Rapids. This shop was the first needlepoint-only store in the country and remains the oldest needlepoint shop in North America.

In 2004, the store relocated to Ada village but has continued to build its reputation as a national destination store, attracting customers from all over the country as well as many from Canada.

"This move will truly give us the showcase our products deserve," Machelle Somerville, general manager, said. "We just know how excited our customers are to have the incredible natural light in the store and we hope that as new needlepoint explorers peek in, they too will get excited to learn the craft."

Ada's village area, part of the Ada Drive project, has been under construction for nearly five months, closing off much of the area to traffic. The project is set to wrap up by the end of the month.

The reconstruction of Ada Drive and new Ada Drive Plaza are part the $13 million redevelopment of Ada Village.

Other projects include new housing, new infrastructure, public amenities, additional parking, creating green spaces and connection to the Thornapple River.

The township's next project is underway as of Aug. 7 and includes construction on River Street.

The River Street project will be far less disruptive for traffic as no detours will be involved, according to Jim Ferro, township planning director.